Tennessee Vols’ battle at kicker ongoing’

KNOXVILLE — There doesn’t appear to be a solution in sight to Tennessee’s kicking question.

KNOXVILLE — There doesn’t appear to be a solution in sight to Tennessee’s kicking question.

Whether the Volunteers turn to redshirt sophomore George Bullock or freshman Aaron Medley in the season opener against Utah State might not be known until shortly before kickoff of the game in eight days.

Second-year Tennessee coach Butch Jones conceded the battle between Bullock and Medley is "ongoing" after practice on a steaming Friday afternoon at Haslam Field.

"Would I have liked for it to have become a little more crystal clear? Absolutely, but that’s not where we’re at right now," the coach said.

"They’re still pushing each other," Jones added, "but we’ll see which one has more competitive character, which will be our kicker. It’ll be ongoing. Whoever starts the Utah State [game], it doesn’t give them the right and privilege to start against Arkansas State."

That seems fine for Bullock and Medley, neither of whom has kicked in a college game.

"It’s a good competition," Medley said. "George is a great kicker, and I’m trying my best every day to make sure that I’m doing the things I need to be doing to get that starting job."

Jones sounded distraught when he said both kickers were "not there yet" with the desired consistency, and he specified that field goals 40 yards or closer should be automatic.

"We’d love to show perfection all the time, of course," Bullock said. "We’re going to compete and do the best we can, no matter how long it goes. We’ll leave that up to the coaches and trust their decision with whoever starts."

Medley said he expects a decision "close to game day," though neither kicker has been given a timetable.

"If it were me," he added, "it’d be a tough decision between us."

Scott sidelined

Jones told the Times Free Press that freshman tailback Derrell Scott is out with a foot injury and won’t be ready for the season opener. The consensus four-star recruit from North Carolina missed a chunk of practice early in training camp with an injury but returned and began performing well.

The 5-foot-11, 194-pound Scott helped his Havelock High School team to three consecutive state championships and was the MVP in last year’s title game with a 209-yard, three-touchdown performance.

Marlin Lane, freshman Jalen Hurd and Devrin Young figure to get most of the work out of Tennessee’s backfield, and Justus Pickett, a walk-on Maryland transfer, also could get some work.

Offensive tackle Kyler Kerbyson was absent from Friday’s practice to attend a funeral, and Dontavius Blair missed practice due to a class conflict.